Naked Man Festival, Okayama (Hadaka Matsuri)

February 16

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The Saidaiji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri in Okayama, colloquially known as the naked man festival, is the largest of a series of similar festivals held around Japan. Thousand of naked men – well nearly naked, as they are wearing loin cloths – brave the cold February weather to compete for offerings thrown to them from the priests at the Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple in Okayama, in a frenzied take on the wedding bouquet rites.

Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple worships the thousand-armed Kannon and marks the start of the Chugoku Pilgrimage.

The men of Okayama have been carrying on this practice for more than 500 years. Originally it marked the end of the novice priests’ ascetic New Year training. Paper talismen or go-o were cast into the gathered throng by priests, and the more that were caught, the greater the luck that would befall the recipient for the forthcoming year.

As many as 10,000 men clad solely in loin cloths and tabi socks run around the temple grounds and through a freezing fountain, in order to purify both their body and souls. Their aim is to catch scented wooden sticks or shingi, which will bring them luck for the forthcoming year. Alternatively, they might just catch a cold. There is also a child-friendly version of the event.

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Before setting up Travel Begins at 40, Mark was the publisher of AsiaLIFE Cambodia and a freelance travel writer. He has written the Inspector Satya trilogy novels: To Cook A Spider, Peppered Justice and Unravelling the Web (due to be published in 2019), as well as the shorts Always, A Slow Death and Sleeping Beauty. Loves walking, eating, beer, isolation and arthouse movies.

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Travel Begins at 40

They say that life begins at forty, so too can travel. Travel Begins at 40 is a website aimed at the independent-minded, mature and empathetic traveller. From cultural tourism to homestays, adventure travel and eco-tourism, our team of travel writing experts have shared their best – and worst – travel experiences with you, as well as providing insight into the most exciting destinations on the planet, and the more interesting things you can do once you get there. Let the adventure begin. Read more →